We the People...the Citizen and the Constitution

by Center for Civic Education

• ISBN13: 9780898181777
• ISBN10: 0898181771
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-01-01
• Publisher: Center for Civic Education

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
An Introduction to the Study of the Constitution	ix
Unit One: What Are the Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System?	1	(52)
What Would Life Be Like in a State of Nature?	2	(5)
How Does Government Secure Natural Rights?	7	(6)
What Did the Founders Learn about Republican Government from the Ancient World?	13	(6)
How Did Modern Ideas of Individual Rights Develop?	19	(7)
What Were the British Origins of American Constitutionalism?	26	(4)
How Did Representative Government Begin in England?	30	(5)
What Basic Ideas about Rights and Constitutional Government Did Colonial Americans Have?	35	(7)
Why Did the American Colonists Want to Free Themselves from Britain? What Basic Ideas about Government Did the Founders Put in the Declaration of Independence?	42	(5)
What Basic Ideas about Government Did the State Constitutions Include? How Did the New States Protect Rights?	47	(6)
Unit Two: How Did the Framers Create the Constitution?	53	(38)
Why Did the Founders Want to Change the Articles of Confederation of 1781?	54	(6)
Who Attended the Philadelphia Convention? What Did They Agree to Do?	60	(5)
Why Did the Framers Use the Virginia Plan to Create the Constitution?	65	(3)
What Powers Were Granted to the Legislative Branch?	68	(6)
What Powers Were Granted to the Executive and Judicial Branches?	74	(6)
What Conflicting Opinions did the Framers Have about the Completed Constitution?	80	(4)
What was the Anti-Federalists' Position in the Debate about Ratification?	84	(3)
What was the Federalists' Position in the Debate about Ratification?	87	(4)
Unit Three: How did the Values and Principles Embodied in the Constitution Shape American Institutions and Practices?	91	(26)
How was the Constitution Used to Organize the New Government?	92	(4)
What Rights Did the Constitution Protect? How the Bill of Rights Added to the Constitution?	96	(6)
What Caused the Rise of Political Parties?	102	(5)
What is Judicial Review? Why is it Controversial?	107	(6)
How is Power Divided between the Federal and State Governments?	113	(4)
Unit Four: How have the Protections of the Bill of Rights been Developed and Expanded?	117	(36)
What were the Constitutional Issues That Led to the Civil War?	118	(4)
What Amendments to the Constitution were Added to Protect the Rights of African Americans?	122	(5)
How Did the Fourteenth Amendment Expand Constitutional Protections of Rights?	127	(6)
How did the Civil Rights Movement Use the Constitution to Achieve its Goals?	133	(7)
How has the Right to Vote Expanded Since the Adoption of the Constitution?	140	(6)
To What Extent Can the Law Correct Injustice and Other Problems in American Society?	146	(7)
Unit Five: What Rights does the Bill of Rights Protect?	153	(36)
Why Does the First Amendment Limit the Government's Power over Religion?	154	(6)
How does the First Amendment Protect Freedom of Expression?	160	(5)
How does the First Amendment Protect Freedom of Assembly, Petition, and Association?	165	(5)
What is the Importance of Procedural Due Process?	170	(5)
How do the Fourth and Fifth Amendments Protect Us against Unreasonable Law Enforcement Procedures?	175	(7)
How do the Fifth through Eighth Amendments Protect Our Rights within the Judicial System?	182	(7)
Unit Six: What are the Roles of the Citizen in American Democracy?	189	(30)
What Does It Mean to be a Citizen?	190	(5)
How do We Use Our Citizenship?	195	(5)
How may Citizenship Change in the Nation's Third Century?	200	(4)
What can American Citizens Learn about Constitutionalism from Other Countries?	204	(5)
What are some Constitutional Issues Facing United States Citizens in the Nation's Third Century?	209	(4)
What is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?	213	(6)
Reference Section	219	(46)
Virginia Declaration of Rights	221	(2)
Declaration of Independence	223	(4)
The Articles of Confederation	227	(6)
The Constitution of the United States of America	233	(12)
The Emancipation Proclamation	245	(2)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights [1948]	247	(4)
Letter from Birmingham City Jail	251	(4)
Biographical Notes	255	(10)
Glossary	265	(10)
Index	275	(8)
Photo Credits	283